Sauer 202 or Sako 85 in .243 or .308

[RichardAllen]

I have a venerable Sauer 202 synthetic in .243 which has been a successful rifle for me and I really like the safety catch. I am thinking about an exchange for a new SAKO 85 in the same calibre or possibly .308 (variation allowing), probably in wood, having a more classic look.

Any views as to pro's and con's ?

 

[caorach]

It is never a good idea to change something that works well for you, usually it results in disappointment or annoyance to some degree. If it ain't broke then don't mess with it. The cost of making the change would, in the long run, probably get you a few days at hinds in the highlands somewhere or whatever took your fancy and you'd have a few great days out plus a rifle you know works well for you.

However, if you simply fancy something new or different then you are a long time dead and so it might make good sense for you to simply do something you fancy if it would give you pleasure. I'm not much interested in "guns" myself as they are, to me, a mechanism for getting me a day out rather than an end in themselves but I also appreciate that lots of people enjoy their rifles and enjoy eyeing up new ones and buying them and so on. If you fall into that category then get a new rifle

The short answer is only you know where the value in these things lies for you.

 

[Koenig]

If the Sauer works for you, then don’t get rid of it. You’ll 95% certain kick yourself later.

Do you need a .308 for larger deer or Boar? If so you should be able to convince your FAO to grant a variation to include both.
Whats the Sauer/243 set up not doing that you want it to? I speak as a great fan of, and a 308 shooter.

 

[Dave881]

In my opinion keep the sauer, I had a sako 75 in 243 that was a great rifle and I spent ages thinking about swapping to a sauer 202, really shouldn't have spent as long as I did thinking about it to be honest, I now have two sauers, one in 243 and the other 308. Now I have changed I really can't see me changing to another make of rifle. I understand why you like the safety catch, it's a big thing I like about mine. I am thinking about selling my 243 barrel and bolt as I hardly ever use it and I fancy getting a different calibre.

Can I ask what's making you want to change?

Dave

 

[RichardAllen]

Dave
Pm sent
Richard

 

[Leupsak]

I have a number of Sako 85s and can not fault them, synthetics are light, wood and laminate are a little heavier and steadier, I couldn't recommend them more highly.

Keep the .243 and get a .308 Sako 85, problem solved

 

[glasshalffull]

Plus another for keeping the Sauer 202. But I'm biased as I've had mine for 17 years. It's like the wife, you'd like to change her now and again but you'd end up regretting your decision if you did in the long run
Just a shame the wife wasn't a lightweight and have a silent safety catch

 

[Mauserstalker]

maybe look into get a 308 barrel for the 202 if you require more power

 

[Harry mac]

maybe look into get a 308 barrel for the 202 if you require more power

A .308 barrel and bolt for the 202 would probably cost as much as a nice, second hand Sako 85.

 

[A21MEO]

I have a 202 in .308, wood and blued. I prefer the look of the wood over synthetic and stainless but it does spend a lot of time drying out before being put away! I also like the safety catch and it is a very well made, superbly accurate rifle.

I don’t know the 85 but I also have a Sako 75 (wood & blue) in .223. The action is so smooth that you struggle to tell if it’s chambered a round. In some ways the safety is much better than the Sauer as it is 3 position so you can work the bolt to unload without taking the safety off but I find the Sauer’s much better when stalking.

Unless you have either a specific reason or burning desire to change, I would stick with the 202. I’ll not be getting rid of mine!

 

[woodmaster]

Like you, and others who have responded, I have sauer a few 202''s. I have got so comfortable with the feel of the rifle, the balance and operation of it that I thought it best to have all rifles the same except calibre. I know it may seem boring, but all the rifles are tools to help me stalk and when the moment comes be swift and accurate. So I'd say get another barrel for 308. The bolt will be the same as your 243 so it won't cost a fortune to do. Then either use the same scope with the adjustment required written down for repeatable changes or buy a scope for each calibre and use leupold qd mounts. I have a scope for each and just swap if required as I have less rifles than barrels. I think you'll find a rifle with different safety and feel awkward if flitting from one to another.

 

[Dave881]

Like you, and others who have responded, I have sauer a few 202''s. I have got so comfortable with the feel of the rifle, the balance and operation of it that I thought it best to have all rifles the same except calibre. I know it may seem boring, but all the rifles are tools to help me stalk and when the moment comes be swift and accurate. So I'd say get another barrel for 308. The bolt will be the same as your 243 so it won't cost a fortune to do. Then either use the same scope with the adjustment required written down for repeatable changes or buy a scope for each calibre and use leupold qd mounts. I have a scope for each and just swap if required as I have less rifles than barrels. I think you'll find a rifle with different safety and feel awkward if flitting from one to another.

Great advice, but I will add that the 243 bolt is different than the 308 bolt in the sauer 202. I know the 243 is a necked down 308 but for some unknown reason sauer decided to give them different numbers of lugs on the bolt so they are not interchangeable, this only effects 243 and I believe 22CF for the sauer 202, all other non magnum cartridges use the same bolt so it's a case of changing the barrel only.
Dave

 

[I. Farticus]

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[maxtheflyinghorse]

i am thinking about selling my cz 550 in .308 and to get a sako 85 in .308 but then again my cz aint broke so im not sure why i should

 

[gixer1]

Another vote for keeping the Sauer - I have a 202 in 243 and I just can't see anything doing its job anybetter....plus you have the option to easily swap the synthetic to wood there are usually a number of wood stocks for sale.

The .243 will drop anything that walks this island and Sauers are fantastically accurate and smooth, great trigger, great safety and nice light rifle.

Regards,

Gixer

 

[RichardAllen]

Many thanks for all the advice and encouragement on here.

So I gave my 202 in .243 a good clean, checked it out with the borescope then gave it a really good clean. Thinking of a possible trade-in I took it over to Jamie at Garlands, who has loads of 202s. He persuaded me that I should keep the rifle, and just try it out with different makes of 100gr ammunition.

So I bought some ammunition, a BSA bag rest set , a large bag of rice to fill the rest, and printed off some targets 1cm square grid and 3cm diameter circle (see attached). And gave the rifle another really really good clean.

At a somewhat makeshift, but measured, 100m range, I was shooting prone off the bag rests. After about 50 rounds of 6 different types(Sako, Fiocchi, Geco, RWS, PPU, remington) I had:

- 2 rounds my really bad shooting
- 3 rounds obvious flyers (PPU twice and 1 Fiocchi)
- best MOA: 0.4 (RWS) - see attached pics - 3 shot group, though it does look like 2,
- worst MOA: 1.2 (Remington)
- av MOA off bag: 0.6

MOAs are all 3 shot groups measured with a digital caliper to nearest 0.5mm and converted by exact Excel formula.

I tried generally to give the barrel time to cool, (not least by trudging up and down the range to change targets) and I pulled-through with a boresnake every 12 rounds.

Most of the ammunition worked well from the outset, but the Geco and PPU shot much better once the barrel was fouled a bit.

I did have a couple of RWS groups where the grouping was OK but the POI went 4cm high. This was due to the barrel getting a bit hot, and settled back down once it was cool again. There is a possibility the moderator loosened a bit here too.

I was also interested in how things changed if I shot off a spartan bipod, as I suspected a problem with POI changing. Unfortunately, I had little chance to really check due to weather, however over 9 rounds, the average MOA increased just to 0.9, and interestingly POI remained the same, which was encouraging.

By the time I got to shoot off sticks, I was tired, it had started to drizzle, and the less said about that the better; other than all 6 rounds hit a roe sized kill zone. Just.

So overall my faith in this rifle is completely restored, I just need to clean it better and practice shooting it more off sticks.

Many thanks again to all.
Richard

 

[Sonicdmb73]

As it happens I recently sold my 243 (CZ550) and bought a Sauer 202 in 6.5x55 I have a 270 barrel waiting for my other rifle to sell.
The fact that they started with the 6 lug bolt on the 6.5 and did a 3 lug on the 243 and 22-250 seems strange. However I am sure I heard Walther were doing replacement barrels for the 202. And apparently there are adapters that you can use to have any calibre you like (subject to bolt face). 20-250 anyone?
The Sauer will do me for years to come.

 

[RichardAllen]

A roe and a munty this morning- just the job with this shutdown